Folau receives AUD$8 million settlement from Rugby Australia over contract termination

Former Wallabies star Israel Folau has reportedly received an AUD$8 million settlement from Rugby Australia over his contract termination.

Folau received the huge payout after he originally sought a $14 million compensation for what he believed was the wrongful termination by Rugby Australia, who sacked the fullback for a code of conduct breach on social media.

Folau's breach stemmed from an Instagram post earlier this year in which he said "Hell awaits" groups of people, including homosexuals and drunks.  

Folau and Rugby Australia engaged in mediation this week and after a 12-hour meeting on Monday and follow-up lengthy phone calls after, the two parties announced yesterday they had reached an agreement after settling for a confidential amount. 

The Daily Telegraph reports that the sum is AUS$8 million.

The figure is much higher than many people expected with former Wallaby and Australian media personality Peter FitzSimons saying in a recent Sydney Morning Herald column that he expected nothing higher than "$200,000 to $300,000". 

Folau stated leading into the mediation that he believed his contract termination cost him AUS$4.2 million from 2019-2022, as well as AUS$300,000 in match payments from 2019-2021 and an additional AUS$150,000 in match payments in 2022.

The 30-year-old also claimed he could've made up to $1.5 million a season for up to two years with Rugby Australia and a Super Rugby club after 2022. He also believed he could've made that sort of money after 2022 with an overseas club when his international career had ended.

[Source: TVNZ]

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